Strippable coating system

Abstract

A radiation curable coating contains an agent that imparts greater strippability to the cured coating. The agent can be included in the coating or in one or more subsequently applied maintenance coats.

We claim:  
     
       1. A radiation curable coating comprising about 0.1 to about 15 weight percent of an agent or agents that impart greater strippability to the cured coating. 
     
     
       2. A coating according to  claim 1  wherein the curable coating is waterborne. 
     
     
       3. A coating according to  claim 2  further comprising inorganic particles. 
     
     
       4. A coating according to  claim 1  wherein the agent enhances adhesion of a radiation curable maintenance coat to the cured coating. 
     
     
       5. A coating according to  claim 1  wherein the agent comprises a chain transfer agent that reduces the molecular weight of the cured coating. 
     
     
       6. A coating according to  claim 1  wherein the agent contains oxygen. 
     
     
       7. A coating according to  claim 1  wherein the agent comprises an alcohol, ester, aldehyde or mixture thereof. 
     
     
       8. A coating according to  claim 1  wherein the agent has at least one phenyl group in proximity to one or more hydroxyl or aldehyde groups. 
     
     
       9. A coating according to  claim 1  wherein the agent comprises t-butyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
       10. A coating according to  claim 1  comprising about 0.5 to about 8 weight percent agent based on the weight of the curable coating. 
     
     
       11. A coating according to  claim 1  wherein the cured coating can be removed using a stripper comprising benzyl alcohol. 
     
     
       12. A radiation cured coating atop a substrate wherein the uncured coating comprised about 0.1 to about 15 weight percent of an agent or agents that impart greater strippability to the cured coating. 
     
     
       13. A coating according to  claim 12 , comprising two or more coats of radiation cured coating, wherein the agent was present in at least one of the coats before cure. 
     
     
       14. A coating according to  claim 13  wherein the agent was present in the coat closest to the substrate. 
     
     
       15. A coating according to  claim 13  wherein the agent was present in all of the coats. 
     
     
       16. A coating according to  claim 12  wherein the agent comprises a chain transfer agent that reduces the molecular weight of the cured coating. 
     
     
       17. A coating according to  claim 12  wherein the agent contains oxygen. 
     
     
       18. A coating according to  claim 12  wherein the agent comprises an alcohol, ester, aldehyde or mixture thereof. 
     
     
       19. A coating according to  claim 12  wherein the agent has at least one phenyl group in proximity to one or more hydroxyl or aldehyde groups. 
     
     
       20. A coating according to  claim 12  wherein the agent comprises t-butyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
       21. A coating according to  claim 12  wherein the uncured coating comprised about 0.5 to about 8 weight percent agent based on the weight of the curable coating. 
     
     
       22. A coating according to  claim 12  comprising a readily strippable intermediate layer between the substrate and the radiation cured coating. 
     
     
       23. A coating according to  claim 12  wherein the coating can be removed by applying to it a stripper composition comprising at least one polar solvent, allowing the stripper composition to contact the coating for sufficient time to soften the coating, and removing the softened coating from the substrate by mopping, vacuuming, mild abrasion or other measures that do not remove substantial portions of the substrate. 
     
     
       24. A coating according to  claim 12  wherein the substrate comprises a floor. 
     
     
       25. A coating according to  claim 24  wherein the substrate comprises a resilient flooring material. 
     
     
       26. A coating according to  claim 25  wherein the substrate comprises vinyl or vinyl composite tiles. 
     
     
       27. A coating according to  claim 24  wherein the substrate comprises a multi-piece flooring material. 
     
     
       28. A coating according to  claim 27  wherein the substrate comprises wood. 
     
     
       29. A coating according to  claim 12  comprising an acrylate, methacrylate, unsaturated polyester, vinyl ether, epoxy, urethane or mixture thereof. 
     
     
       30. A coating according to  claim 29  comprising a UV cured aromatic urethane. 
     
     
       31. A coating according to  claim 29  comprising a UV cured aliphatic polyester urethane. 
     
     
       32. A kit comprising a radiation curable coating material comprising an agent that imparts greater strippability to the radiation curable coating material after cure, and instructions for jobsite application of the material to installed flooring materials. 
     
     
       33. A kit according to  claim 32  wherein the material comprises water. 
     
     
       34. A kit according to  claim 32  wherein the agent comprises a chain transfer agent that reduces the molecular weight of the cured coating. 
     
     
       35. A kit according to  claim 32  wherein the agent contains oxygen. 
     
     
       36. A kit according to  claim 32  wherein the agent comprises an alcohol, ester, aldehyde or mixture thereof. 
     
     
       37. A kit according to  claim 32  wherein the agent has at least one phenyl group in proximity to one or more hydroxyl or aldehyde groups. 
     
     
       38. A kit according to  claim 32  wherein the agent comprises t-butyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
       39. A kit according to  claim 32  comprising about 0.1 to about 15 weight percent agent based on the weight of the material. 
     
     
       40. A kit according to  claim 32  comprising about 0.5 to about 8 weight percent agent based on the weight of the material. 
     
     
       41. A kit according to  claim 32  further comprising a readily strippable intermediate coating. 
     
     
       42. A kit according to  claim 32  further comprising a stripper. 
     
     
       43. A kit according to  claim 42  wherein the stripper comprises at least one polar solvent. 
     
     
       44. A kit according to  claim 32  wherein the material comprises an acrylate, methacrylate, unsaturated polyester, vinyl ether, epoxy, urethane or mixture thereof. 
     
     
       45. A kit according to  claim 32  wherein the material comprises a waterborne aromatic urethane. 
     
     
       46. A kit according to  claim 32  wherein the material comprises a waterborne aliphatic polyester urethane. 
     
     
       47. A kit according to  claim 32  further comprising a radiation curable maintenance coating material comprising the agent. 
     
     
       48. A method for applying a strippable coating to a substrate, comprising: 
       a. coating the substrate with a radiation curable composition comprising about 0.1 to about 15 weight percent of an agent or agents that impart greater strippability to the composition after it is cured; and  
       b. radiation curing the coating.  
     
     
       49. A method for applying a strippable coating to a substrate, comprising: 
       a. coating the substrate with a radiation curable composition comprising an agent that imparts greater strippability to the composition after it is cured;  
       b. radiation curing the coating;  
       c. exposing the cured coating to wear and tear whereby the appearance of the cured coating deteriorates;  
       d. applying to the cured coating one or more radiation curable maintenance coats comprising such agent; and  
       e. radiation curing such maintenance coat or coats to restore the appearance of the cured coating.  
     
     
       50. A method for applying a strippable coating to a substrate, comprising: 
       a. coating the substrate with a radiation curable composition comprising an agent that imparts greater sirippability to the composition after it is cured; and  
       b. radiation curing the coating;  
       wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of pieces, the composition is factory-applied and radiation cured on the substrate pieces before the substrate pieces are installed at a jobsite, and the cured composition is stripped from and reapplied to the substrate at the jobsite after the substrate has been subjected to wear. 
     
     
       51. A method according to  claim 48  wherein the agent comprises a chain transfer agent that reduces the molecular weight of the radiation cured coating. 
     
     
       52. A method according to  claim 48  wherein the agent contains oxygen. 
     
     
       53. A method according to  claim 48  wherein the agent comprises an alcohol, ester, aldehyde or mixture thereof. 
     
     
       54. A method according to  claim 48  wherein the agent has at least one phenyl group in proximity to one or more hydroxyl or aldehyde groups. 
     
     
       55. A method according to  claim 48  wherein the agent comprises t-butyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol or benzaldehyde. 
     
     
       56. A method according to  claim 48  comprising about 0.5 to about 8 weight percent agent based on the weight of the composition. 
     
     
       57. A method according to  claim 48  wherein the cured coating can be removed using a stripper comprising benzyl alcohol.